Red Upconverter Nanocrystals Functionalized with Verteporfin for Photodynamic Therapy Triggered by Upconversion.

ABSTRACT: Upconversion (UC) nanoparticles characterized by red upconversion emission, particularly interesting for biological applications, have been prepared and subsequently modified by the covalent anchoring of Verteporfin (Ver), an FDA approved photosensitizer (PS) which usually exerts its photodynamic activity upon excitation with red light. ZrO₂ was chosen as the platform where Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ were inserted as the sensitizer and activator ions, respectively. Careful control of the doping ratio, along with a detailed physico-chemical characterization, was carried out. Upon functionalization with a silica shell to covalently anchor the photosensitizer, a theranostic nanoparticle was obtained whose architecture, thanks to a favorable energy level match and a uniform

SUBMITTER: Miletto I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9266923 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature